Engine starting apparatus



Oct. 18, 193s. A, ALLSEN 2,133,534 I ENGINE STAREPING APPARATUS FiledFeb. 2, 1937 -3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inn??? 45 CAM/sew Oct. 18, 1938. EN2,133,534

ENGINE summe Arnnuus Filed Feb. 2, 193'! r s shee'is-sheet 2 PatentedOct. 18, 1938 PATENT OFFICE ENGINE STARTING APPARATUS. I

Albert Callsen, Stuttgart-Botnang, Germany, assignor to Robert BoschGeselischaft mit beschri'inktcr Haftung, Stuttgart, Germany ApplicationFebruary 2, 1937, Serial No. 123,624 In Germany February 10, 1936 6Claims.

This invention relates to starting apparatus for internal combustionengines, more particu .larly to a coincidental system in which theoperation of the starting motor is instituted by the motion of anysuitable control member, such as an accelerator or clutch pedal ratherthan by an individual starting control. In prior systems of this typethere is the possibility that a cold engine may the a few times and thenstop, and

that an impatient operator may attempt to reengage the starting pinionbefore the engine flywheel has'come to rest. Under these conditionsconsiderable damage might be sustained by the starting mechanism. Theinvention herein 1 described is designed to prevent the occurrence ofsuch damage by providing an interlock linkage arrangement which willprevent the closureof the starting motor circuit until the engine hascome to a complete standstill. During the period 50 of engine operation,a coupling element is automatically locked in such position as to renderthe linkage ineffective and so prevents any improper engagement of thestarting switch contacts. When the engine is at a standstill it isnecessary to depress the accelerator or clutch pedal in order to unlockthe coupling element and restore the linkage to an operative condition.A subsequent depression of the pedal will then actuate the linkage andclose the starting switch.

One of the objects of this invention is, therefore, to provide enginestarting apparatus which is more efllcient in operation and certain inperformance.

Another object is to provide engine starting 35 apparatus which is moresimple in construction and more economical in manufacture.

A further object is to provide engine starting apparatus which is lesssubject to injury through abuse or misuse.

40 Still a further object is to provide engine starting apparatus whichis automatically rendered inoperative while the associated engineflywheel is revolving.

Other objects and advantages will in part be obvious and in part bespecifically set forth when the following specification is read inconnection with the drawings, in which:

t Fig. 1 Ba side view of the control linkage as applied to a startingmotor assembly; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary section ta'kenon line 2-2 ofFig.

1 looking from the left side and showing the coupiing bolt in theoperative position; Fig. 3 is a partial section similar to Fig. 2 andshows the i coupling bolt in its inoperative position; Fig. 4

is a. section similar to the two preceding figures and shows the mode ofunlatching the coupling bolt to place the linkage in an operativecondition; Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the actuating member; Fig.-6 isa cross section taken on line 5 -G6 of Fig. '7, which shows amodification of the device in which a magnetic starting switch isemployed.

Referring now in more detail to Fig. 1, the numeral l indicates astarting motor which may be 10 of the type customarily employed inautomobile and motor vehicles generally. The armature shaft 2 of themotor carries a sliding pinion 3 which may be moved by the tiltable yoke4 into engagement with the toothed rim of flywheel 5. The flywheel isattached to an associated internal-combustion engine not shown. Astarting switch 6 is mounted on the motor i in such position that themovable element thereof is in the path of movement of an associated partof the tiltable yoke 4. A hearing I on the starter housing supports theyoke 4, the actuating member -8, and the'push rod 9, by means of thepivot shaft to. The push rod 9 is connected to a suitable control, suchas the pedal 9' which may be either the clutch or accelerator pedal. Asshown in Fig. 2, a latching bolt II is transversely mounted in theyoke4, and is guided by the slots l2 in either leg of the yoke. A spring l3bears against the top of the bolt II and maintains a downward thrust.One end of. the bolt projects from the arm of the yoke 4, and ispivotally attached to a lever l4. The bolt ll has'a latch abutment l5 atthe other end and is provided with a centrally disposed notch it. Anear' ii on the yoke 5 4 pivotally supports the lever l4. The lower endof the lever is connected to a stud l8 which is mounted on a diaphragml9, mounted 'in the cup 20. A conduit 21 connects the cup 20 with anysuitable source of low pressure, such as the in- 40 take manifold of anassociated engine. As shown in detail in Fig. 5, the actuating member 8has a sloping upper surface 22. The forward edge 23 of the member 8 ispositioned so that it does not clear the lower edge of bolt II when thebolt is in the unlatched position shown in Fig. 2. When the bolt H islatched as shown in Fig. 3, the forward edge 23 clearsthe bottom of theslot l6 and the bolt is engaged by the surface 22 and rear-edge 24.

A combined magnetic and lever system is shown in Fig. 7, where the latchbolt H is guided in slots 30 in a spring biased. slidableframe 3|, bestseen in Fig. 6. A coil spring 32 bears against the upper surface of thebolt II. The actuating member 33 has the upper surface shaped similarlyto the member 8 of the preceding figures and engages the bolt H in thesame manner.

The actuating member 33 is moved by the piv-' oted lever 34. A push rod35 is connected to the foot pedal 36, and drives one end of the lever 34through a spring link 31. An armature 38 of a magnetic switch 39 carriesa contact for closing the circuit between astarting motor 40 and thebattery 4|, the operating winding being indicated at 42 and thecustomary car ignition manifold and the diaphragm I9 is substantiallyflat, as shown in Fig. 2. This condition .draws the latch bolt ll to theleft, where it forms a barrier in the path of the member 8. In startingthe engine, the operating pedal forces the member 8 toward the observer,carrying with it the bolt II, and thus tilting the yoke 4 intoengagement with the starting switch, as may be seen from Fig. 1. Whenthe engine starts, the suction in the intake manifold draws thediaphragm I 9 into the position shown in Fig. 3, moving the latch boltII to the right and the spring l3 latches it. In case the engine stalls,the linkage remains latched as shown in Fig. 3, and in orderto re-start,it is necessary first to depress the operating pedal and move theactuating member 8 forward so that its sloping upper surface 22 willengage the floor of the notch l6 and lift the bolt II from its latchedposition. This may be seen in Fig. 4, where the bolt has been unlatchedand the restoring force of the diaphragm I9 is moving it into theposition shown in Fig. 2. Whenever there is a suction in the intakemanifold of the engine, during either the running condition or in thestopping period, the diaphragm 20 will maintain the bolt H'inthe-positionshown inFig. 3. Any movement of the operating pedal willmerely cause member 8 to slide through the notch 16, lifting the latchbolt ll meanwhile, but without tilting the yoke 4. When the engine hascome to a complete stop it is necessary, as above mentioned, to firstdepress the operating member to unlatch the bolt I l and permit itsrestoration to the condition shown in Fig. 2. A subsequent depression ofthe operating member then causes the leading edge 23 of the member'3 toengage the side of the bolt I I, and so tilt the yoke 4 into contactwith the starting switch. It will be seen that two separate actuationsof an operating member, such as a clutch or accelerator pedal, arenecessary to enable operation of the starting mechanism. The firstactuation to unlatch the bolt H and restore the linkage to an operativecondition .and the second actuation to tilt the yoke 4 into engage mentwith the starting switch.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the respective action of thebolt H and the actuating member 33 is similar to that just described. Inthis instance, however, when the linkage is in the operative conditionand the pedal 26 is depressed the abutment 44 on the slidable frame 3|engages the end of the switch armature 33. The travel of the slidableframe 3| is not sufiicient to close the switch-contacts, but it movesthe other end of the armature into the strong magnetic field of thesolenoid winding 42, assuming that ignition switch 43 is closed. Thecurrent flowing from the battery 4 I, through the winding 42 andarmature winding of generator 45 to ground, establishes a. magneticfield suiiiciently strong to attract-the switch armature 38 and closethe contacts of the starting motor circuit. When the engine starts themanifold suction will draw in.the diaphragm l9 and move the bolt II toits inoperative coupling position as shown in Fig. 6. The frame 3! willslide back to the position shown in Fig. 7, and the current coming fromthe generator '45 will buck the battery current in the solenoid windingto produce a null point which will allow the restoring spring to breakthe starting circuit and move the armature 38 out of the magnetic fieldof the solenoid winding. In this embodiment the actual control of thestarting switch is virtually independent of the foot pedal assembly35-36 and the linkage apparatus 31-33. Both of the describedembodiments, however, require two operations of the foot pedal instarting, one to place the linkage in operative condition, and the otherto close the starting switch.

It will be obvious that many changes and modifications may be made byanyone skilled in the art, without departing from the scope and spiritof the invention as defined in the following claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. In a motor vehicle starting system including a starting switch and astarting pinion, means for jointly closing said switch and moving saidpinion into starting position, a control pedal, 9. coupling linkagebetween said pedal and said means, a power element responsive to engineoperation. for controlling said linkage whereby said linkage ismaintained inoperative during engine operation, means for holding saidlinkage in an inoperative position upon the stopping of the engine, andreleasing means operable by one movement of said control pedal torestore said linkage to operative condition and by a second movementof'said pedal to actuate said switch closing means.

2. The combination with a vehicle having an internal combustioh engine,and a control for said engine, of a power element connected to saidengine, a starting motor, a starting gear driven by said motor, abattery, a circuit for connecting said battery and motor, a normallyopen switch in said circuit, a mechanical linkage connected to saidcontrol for-closing said switch, a movable coupling element in saidlinkage connected to said power element, means including said powerelement for moving said coupling element to render said linkageinoperative .during'the operation of said engine, means dependent uponoperation of said control for restoringsaid linkage to operativecondition upon stopping of the engine, and means for simultaneouslyengaging said starting gear and closing said switch, said controlrestoring means including an actuating member connected to said controlfor restoring said linkage to operative condition.

3. The combination with a vehicle having an internal combustion engine,and a control for said engine, of a power element connected to saidengine, a'starting motor, a starting gear driven by said motor, abattery, a circuit for conswitch in said circuit, a mechanical linkageconnected to said control for closing said switch,

a movable coupling element in said linkage connected to said powerelement, means including said power element for moving said couplingelement to render said linkage inoperative during the operation of saidengine, and means dependent upon operation of said control for restoringsaid linkage to operative condition upon stop- Ping of the engine, saidmovable coupling element comprising a laterally slidable latch boltwhich'inlatched position renders said linkage inoperative, said controlrestoring means including an actuating member connected to said controlfor unlatching said bolt.

4. The combination with a vehicle having an internal combustion engine,and a control for said engine, of a power element connected to saidengine, a starting motor, a starting gear driven by said motor, abattery, a circuit for connecting said battery and motor, a normallyopen switch in said circuit, a mechanical linkage connected to saidcontrol for closing said switch, a movable coupling element.in saidlinkage connected to said power element, means including said powerelement for moving said coupling element to render said linkageinoperative during the operation of said engine, and means dependentupon operation of said control for restoring said linkage to operativecondition upon stopping of the engine, said movable coupling elementcomprising a laterally slidable bolt having a latching abutment at oneend and a spring for maintaining said bolt in latched position, said'control restoring means including an actuating member connected to saidcontrol for unlatching said bolt. I

5. The combination with a vehicle having an internal combustion engine,and a control for said engine, of a power element connected to saidengine, a starting motor, a starting gear driven by said motor, abattery, a circuit for connecting said battery and motor, a normallyopen switch in said circuit, a mechanical linkage connected to saidcontrol for closing said switch, a-movable coupling element in saidlinkage connected to said power element, means including said pOWerelement for moving said coupling element to render said linkageinoperative during the operation of said engine, and means dependentupon operation of said control for restoring said linkage to operativecondition upon stopping oi the engine, said movable coupling elementconiprising a laterally slidable latch bolt having a notch therein, saidcontrol restoring means including an actuating member connected to saidcontrol and cooperating with said notch to unlatch said bolt.

6. The combination with a vehicle having an internal combustion engine,and a control for said engine, of a power element connected to saidengine, a starting motor, a starting gear driven by said motor, abattery, a circuit for connecting said battery and motor, a normallyopen switch in said circuit, a mechanical linkage connected to saidcontrol for closing said switch,

a movable coupling element in said linkage connected to said powerelement, means including control restoring meansincluding an actuatingmember included in said linkage, said actuating member being pivoted onthe same axis as said

